Hegseth says firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter will be ‘public’

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has remarked the execution of a former US Army psychiatrist who killed 13 residents at the Fort Hood military base in Texas will be publicly available to watch.

Key points

• Hasan was sentenced to death in August 2013 after a military jury discovered him guilty of 45 counts of premeditated murder and attempted murder for the shooting.
• The last time a US military execution was conducted by firing squad was in 1945, for desertion during World War II.
• When asked to comment on Hegseth's remarks – and whether Trump would view the execution – the White House referred Al Jazeera to the Pentagon.
• An official with the Defense Department informed Al Jazeera that Hasan's execution would be "livestreamed", adding that more details would come shortly.
• "We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public, " Hegseth informed interviewer Jack Posobiec.

In an interview with the media outlet Real America's Voice on Thursday, Hegseth was asked regarding President Donald Trump's recent order to apply a firing squad to execute Nidal Hasan. This person was convicted of the 2009 shooting.

Notably, the secretary remarked he approved of the decision, calling it a "no-brainer".

"We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public, " Hegseth informed interviewer Jack Posobiec. "Because people need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things."

Hegseth continued that the execution would take place at Fort Hood on December 3 at 1pm US Central Time (19: 00 GMT), the same time that the 2009 shooting took place.

Meanwhile, the former Army major walked into an army processing centre on the Texas base, shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest) and opened fire on fellow military members waiting to obtain medical attention.

Hasan's execution required approval from Hegseth and Trump. This person authorised the employ of the firing squad on Monday.

Notably, an official with the Defense Department informed Al Jazeera that Hasan's execution would be "livestreamed", adding that more details would come shortly.

It is not clear from Hegseth's remarks whether troops, spectators or US military authorities would be present in person for the execution. US Army regulation states that at least two media outlets should be selected as witnesses.

No state or federal execution has ever been televised in the US. The last public execution in the country took place more than 90 years ago in Owensboro, Kentucky, on August 14, 1936.

Meanwhile, the last time a US military execution was conducted by firing squad was in 1945, for desertion during World War II.

In practice, the Trump administration confirmed it would add death by firing squad as an acceptable method for federal executions in April, along with gas asphyxiation and electrocution.

Taken together, the developments around hegseth says firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter will be 'public' point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.